Elite Police Considered For U. Bucks Unit Would Respond To High-risk Situations

February 18, 1985|by CHUCK AYERS, The Morning Call

A police emergency response team for intervention in high-risk situations could be established in the Upper Bucks County area as early as June.

That's the word from Hilltown Police Chief George Egly, who is pooling resources from at least eight and possibly 10 municipal police departments to form the SWAT-like team.

While the municipalities taking part in establishing the Trained Emergency Situation Team (TEST) have only verbally agreed to the idea, Egly expects approval from the respective governing bodies soon.

Going along with the program to date are Perkasie, Dublin, Telford, Silverdale and the townships of Bedminster, New Britain, East Rockhill and Hilltown.

Under proposed guidelines for TEST, the team would respond in five "high risk" situations, Egly said.

Action could be taken when a person has barricaded himself in an area and threatens harm or violence; when a hostage is taken; when there is a high-risk arrest - when shots have been fired or if that potential exists; and in delivering search warrants when it is known a violent or dangerous person is involved.

Another area of possible action for the team would be protecting VIP's.

Egly said the team commander would decide when to take action in any situation.

Egly will be team commander and provide logistical support from the TEST van at the scene.

"The team will not be called out without first conferring with the chief of police of the municipality requesting action," Egly said.

He said the team would not respond to emergencies in communities that don't participate.

Training is under way for the nine members of TEST assembled from the various departments.

Training includes classes in negotiations, in equipment and weapons and a "smoke room" where team members must find the exit using only their sense of touch.

Egly said the negotiating team also includes several area volunteer ministers who will be at the scene of the emergency should the need for their services arise.

Egly said all municipalities surrounding Hilltown were invited to take part in TEST, as well as Quakertown.

Quakertown Police Chief James McFadden said he is unsure whether to recommend participation in the program to borough council.

"Its a good concept," he said "but its very difficult to come up with a needs assessment. We're still evaluating as to whether we will or won't become involved."

While the situations in which the team would be needed, McFadden said, are "few and far between," there are other tangible benefits.

The first good point, he said, is training. "It would be valuable training whether an officer was on patrol or working with the TEST team."

The second good point, he said, was an enhancement of cooperation among the departments.

"In the Pennridge area, there are many small departments that work well together. Quakertown has no neighboring departments and relies on state police at Dublin for back-up."

But the biggest drawback for the borough, McFadden said, is the distance. New Britain Township, for example, is 10 to 15 miles outside Quakertown's jurisdiction, he said.

In looking at the need for the team, McFadden said he could recall only two incidents in the borough in which a TEST team could have been used, and both were handled successfully by the police department.

In Hilltown, Egly said, there were also only two incidents in which TEST could have been used. Both, he said, were handled successfully.

The team is modeled after a similar one instituted in Montgomery County in 1982 that includes Upper Gwynedd, Lansdale, Towmencin and Hatfield. That team has been called into action four times in the last three years, according to Sgt. Robert L. Stephenson, a team leader from Upper Gwynedd.

Stephenson said on all four occasions maneuvers were "successful" although twice the team failed to prevent individuals from taking their lives.

The TEST funding is to come from participating communities, with each contributing $1,000 in the first year and $500 annually thereafter. Silverdale, which has only a part-time police department, will contribute $500 the first year.